Shannon Airport reports rise in passenger numbers for first time in five years

Shannon Airport recorded an increase in passenger numbers for the time in five years in 2013 – the first year since it came under local control.

A total of 1,400,032 passengers flew through the Clare airport last year, an increase of just over 5,000 on the 1,394,781 who used the facility in 2012.

The increase was achieved despite a difficult start to 2013 as month-over-month passenger numbers continued to decrease in the immediate wake of the airports de-coupling from the Dublin Airport Authority.

However, strong growth June onwards saw the airport half the five years slide in passenger numbers.

“2013 was always going to be challenging, not least at the beginning of the year as we emerged from the State airports group,” said Shannon CEO Neil Pakey.

“After a slow start in terms of passenger numbers over the first five months, trends improved considerably as the year drew on and the second half of the year was very positive. We are very confident that we will now achieve real growth as we move into 2014 and beyond.”

The increase in the latter half of the year was most pronounced on transatlantic routes where 22 per cent growth was achieved, thanks to new services to Chicago and Philadelphia. UK/European routes were also boosted by new services during 2013, to Alicante, Faro, Lanzarote and Liverpool.

Andrew has been working in the media in the West of Ireland for more than a decade. During that time he has been shortlisted for many national journalism awards, served as a judge for the Choice Music Prize in 2008 and was part of the nominating panel for the Meteor Ireland Music Awards from 2008 to 2011. He holds an MA in Journalism and Public Relation and a BA in English, Sociology and Politics.
He is currently working on his debut novel. A selection of his writings, including a number of short stories can be viewed on Where The Rain Falls at https://wheretherainfallslifeemerges.blogspot.com/
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